Han Li let out a hollow laugh, then said coldly, “Wrongfully accuse me? Such arrogance. Do you really think I fear your Mo Manor?”
“If it weren’t for Master Mo having taught me some medical skills during the few days he was my mentor, and the fact that bullying women would tarnish my reputation—hmph! Do you think you alone could stop me? I could slaughter every last soul in this manor single-handedly!” Han Li’s words were icy, his expression turning sinister.
He had made up his mind. Since he could no longer deceive the Mo Manor into handing over the treasure jade, he had no choice but to resort to force to cure the Yin poison in his body. He intended to demonstrate a fraction of his power, make Lady Yan and the others understand his might, and then forcibly take the “Warm Sun Jade.”
When Lady Yan and the others first heard Han Li’s harsh words, their expressions shifted from shock to cold sneers. Third Lady Liu even laughed so hard she bent over, her body trembling with amusement.
Clearly, these women did not believe a word Han Li said. But it didn’t take long for their smiles to freeze completely.
Han Li extended a finger, and suddenly, a flame appeared at its tip. The fireball, about the size of a wine cup’s mouth, caused the temperature in the room to soar instantly, making the women feel as if they had been plunged into the scorching heat of midsummer.
Han Li coldly scanned the room, intending to find an object to use as a target for his “Fireball Technique” to show these women his power. But before he could act, Lady Li exclaimed involuntarily, “A cultivator!” her face filled with fear.
The others also turned pale with terror. Even the cold-faced Fifth Lady showed astonishment, her gaze toward Han Li now filled with surprise.
The fact that these women knew about cultivators surprised Han Li, but his expression only grew darker.
“Are you really a cultivator?” Third Lady Liu widened her beautiful eyes, half-believing, half-doubting.
Han Li snorted and, without a word, flicked his finger slightly. The fireball shot toward the table beside Lady Liu, reducing it to ashes in the blink of an eye.
The move frightened Lady Liu so much that her face turned deathly pale. She quickly stood up and retreated several steps from the ashes before stopping, her expression trembling with fear. Her delicate, vulnerable look would have driven any other man wild with desire.
Unfortunately, Han Li had no time to appreciate the scene. He was now staring intently at Lady Li, who had called out “cultivator,” and asked in a low voice, “Second Lady, how do you know about cultivators? Have you met others like me?”
“I…” Lady Li grew fearful, deeply wary of Han Li’s identity as a cultivator.
“Don’t ask Second Sister. I’ll tell you about cultivators!” Lady Yan, who had been leaning back, closed her eyes wearily and interrupted Han Li’s questioning.
“Oh? Would you care to enlighten me?” Han Li rubbed his nose, his expression softening slightly.
“There’s nothing to hide. Many people in Jiayuan City know about the existence of cultivators,” Lady Yan said with a bitter smile after opening her eyes.
“Some have even witnessed cultivators battling outside the city. I’ve heard they can summon wind and rain, control fire and mist—each like a living immortal.” As she spoke, she glanced at Han Li with a strange look in her eyes.
“So that’s how it is!” Han Li slapped the back of his head. He had forgotten that Jiayuan City was no small place like Caixia Mountain. It wasn’t surprising that cultivators had shown themselves here. Hadn’t he just seen a man in blue yesterday?
“Did Master Mo know about cultivators too?” Han Li suddenly thought of something and couldn’t help but ask.
“Of course. My husband was one of those who witnessed cultivators battling,” Lady Yan replied casually, seeing no reason to hide it.
“No wonder Master Mo was so obsessed with cultivation—he’d seen real cultivators before! It’s a pity he had no spiritual roots. All his efforts were in vain, and in the end, I benefited.” Han Li couldn’t help but sigh.
However, Han Li suddenly found it strange that Lady Yan was being so compliant. She answered whatever he asked honestly, without any resistance. He didn’t believe that she would yield so completely just because he was a cultivator.
Upon closer observation, Han Li noticed that beneath her seemingly calm expression, there was a hint of anxiety.
“Are they stalling for time?” Han Li frowned and released his spiritual sense, but there was no sign of any intruders near the small building.
His eyes darted around, and he suddenly stood up, pacing around the room while examining his surroundings.
Nothing seemed particularly suspicious. The room was simply furnished with tables and chairs, all identical to those from the previous day, except for a pair of half-burned white candles.
“Candles?” Han Li’s gaze fell upon them. At first, he thought they had been lit during the day to pay respects to Master Mo, so he hadn’t paid them much mind. But now that he thought about it, if they were truly mourning their husband, why were there no incense sticks? That seemed unusual.
With this in mind, Han Li sniffed the air carefully and finally detected a faint sandalwood-like scent. The fragrance was so subtle that unless one was specifically paying attention, it would go unnoticed.
When Lady Yan and the others saw Han Li looking at the candles, they grew uneasy. When he began sniffing the air, their expressions changed dramatically. Yet, at that moment, Han Li began to laugh, and he laughed heartily.
“What’s so funny? Even if you’ve discovered the mechanism in the candles, it’s already too late. This is ‘Thousand Drunken Delirium’—an anesthetic. Ordinary people who smell it will feel weak in their bones and muscles, while martial artists will lose their inner energy and temporarily lose their skills. Even if you’re a cultivator, you can’t stay in this room for long without being affected.” Lady Yan, unable to contain herself, tested the waters with her words.
“Nothing much. I just think my luck is pretty good!” Han Li smiled.
“When I was at the Seven Mysteries Sect, I often heard people talk about the tricks of the martial world. Poisons and anesthetics left the deepest impression on me because I’ve suffered from them before. These things are hard to guard against—even ordinary people can use them to easily kill masters. So, I racked my brains and finally came up with a clumsy method to prevent myself from being affected by anesthetics and poisons.” Han Li spoke with some pride.
Lady Yan and the others exchanged glances. Was such a method really possible? Yet the fact remained that Han Li still hadn’t collapsed. Their faces were now completely pale.
“As for what method it is…” Han Li saw the women unconsciously pricking up their ears to listen and couldn’t help but chuckle. “I have no intention of telling you! I don’t have the habit of revealing my secrets to enemies.” Han Li’s expression was dead serious.
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